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On September 3, 2025, Chinese President Xi Jinping presided over a massive military parade in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square, marking the 80th anniversary of Japan’s surrender in World War II. The event featured cutting-edge military hardware—from hypersonic missiles to underwater drones—and was attended by authoritarian leaders including Russia’s Vladimir Putin and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un.
Stepping into the spotlight shortly thereafter, President Donald Trump offered a blend of praise and critique. He called the ceremony “beautiful” and “very, very impressive,” while suggesting that its grandeur seemed designed to capture his attention—“They were hoping I was watching,” he remarked.
Trump’s Core Complaint
Trump emphasized that China’s speech failed to acknowledge the United States’ contribution to the war effort. He stressed:
“I thought it was a beautiful ceremony… but… the United States should have been mentioned… because we helped China very, very much.”
On social media, he framed it sharply with a tongue-in-cheek post addressed to Xi, Putin, and Kim:
“Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against The United States of America.”
His remarks underline a broader tension in U.S.–China narratives about WWII, particularly amid China’s persistent efforts to recast history through a nationalistic lens.
Geopolitical Underpinnings
Trump’s remarks point to a growing narrative divide: China’s leadership intentionally emphasized alliances with non-Western powers such as Russia and North Korea, while sidestepping explicit mention of American aid.
This approach aligns with Beijing’s ongoing strategy of reframing the global memory of WWII—highlighting its own sacrifices and portraying Western support as secondary or self-serving.
Observers note that China’s parade serves a dual purpose: bolstering domestic unity through patriotic spectacle and signaling geopolitical resolve in a turbulent global environment.
President Trump’s reaction combined admiration with pointed criticism: admiration for China’s show of force and criticism for historical oversight. His comments not only spotlight the significance of wartime narratives but also reflect today’s strained dynamics between two global powers whose historical interpretations often mirror modern-day strategic positions.
[Newsroom staff written original, where key claims or facts are used, I’ve referenced the original sources (like The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, AP News, Reuters, FT, etc.) transparently.]
